Soda maker
A soda maker is a household appliance that produces carbonated table water from tap water by adding CO 2 .
construction
A soda maker usually consists of a holder with an exchangeable gas cartridge that, depending on the model, is filled with around 300–500 g of carbon dioxide. The water is filled into special, pressure-resistant bottles and screwed onto the bracket in a pressure-tight manner. Then the gas is introduced into the water at the push of a button via a pipe and valve system. The later carbon dioxide content is determined by the duration of the introduction. The resulting overpressure in the water tank is released if the increase is too great.
Use
Depending on the size of the gas cartridge used, up to 100 liters of sparkling water can be produced per gas filling, according to the manufacturer's instructions. This eliminates the purchase and transport costs for conventional water boxes as well as their storage and disposal. The corresponding device with cylinders and bottles can be found in many supermarkets. The pressure-resistant bottles can be used to store the sparkling water. Some of the newer models use bottles made of special glass or polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) that are dishwasher safe.
The manufacturers of sparkling water makers often also offer a selection of syrups (including sugar-free ones) that give the treated water flavor.
Health risks
In a study by the Institute for Hygiene and Environmental Medicine at the University of Mainz , coliform bacteria were found in 39% of the samples of bubbled water and 12% of the samples in tap water. In addition to the contamination of the tap water, the microbiological quality of the water was influenced by a biofilm on the inside of the bottles.
The reasons for the contamination are not only insufficient observance of the manufacturer's cleaning instructions, but also defects in the design of the devices. According to the manufacturer, if simple cleaning measures are followed, the use of soda makers is hygienically harmless; the bottles can be cleaned with hot water (50 ° C), washing-up liquid and a washing-up brush or cleaning tabs.
See also
Individual evidence
- ↑ Wolfgang Kohnen et al .: Microbiological quality of carbonated drinking water produced with in-home carbonation systems , In: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health , Volume 208, 2005: pp. 415-423, doi : 10.1016 / j.ijheh. 2005.04.008 .
- ↑ Life-threatening infections caused by germs that were often found in household appliances for the production of soda water (e.g. Soda Club, Wasser-Maxx, Soda-Maxx) . Press release. In: uni-freiburg.de . Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg K. d. Ö. R., May 17, 2006, accessed and received on June 14, 2016 (German; notification about an examination of devices).
- ^ Soda-Club GmbH: Carbon dioxide keeps drinking water fresh and pure (PDF; 21 kB), press release, September 4, 2006